title: Urinary beta-core fragment as a predictor of abnormal pregnancy at 4-6 weeks' gestation.
abstract: Currently, transvaginal ultrasound and serial serum beta-hCG measurements are used to differentiate normal versus abnormal gestations in the first trimester of pregnancy. These techniques have been found to be ineffective when the gestations are earlier than 6 weeks. This study was conducted to determine if urinary beta-core fragment, the urine degradation product of beta-hCG, could be used to distinguish normal from abnormal gestations between 4 and 6 weeks. Urine samples were obtained from 27 patients on initial presentation to the emergency room or outpatient settings with gestations at 4-6 weeks by sure last menstrual period. The urine was then frozen at -40 degrees C and sent for beta-core assay analysis. Eighteen women with normal intrauterine pregnancies and nine abnormal pregnancies, including ectopics and spontaneous abortions, were studied. Pearson correlations were performed with a p < 0.05 considered significant. In the normal gestations, there was a positive correlation between beta-core fragment and gestational age at 4-6 weeks (r = 0.461, p < 0.05). This correlation was not evident in abnormal gestations (r = 0.360, p = 0.34). In early pregnancy, beta-core fragment correlates positively with gestational age which is not apparent in abnormal counterparts. This finding suggests that urinary beta-core fragment may be a promising marker to differentiate normal early pregnancies from abnormal gestations.
authors.affiliation: Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Mich. 48201, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cardwell
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kowalczyk
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Krivchenia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human